April 17, 2013

Bisphosphonates Delay Healing After Extraction

Risk For BON

Patients taking certain forms of the popular bisphosphonate medications for osteoporosis are at risk for developing BP-associated osteonecrosis (BON). BON is the presence of exposed necrotic bone for at least eight weeks anywhere in the oral cavity of a person exposed to BPs and who has not received radiation therapy to the head and neck.

Exposed To BPs

As reported in the Journal of the American Dental Association, a controlled study population in Florida, Canada and Norway, between 2007 and 2011, compared patients who were and were not exposed to BPs and needed tooth extraction. Data was collected and analyzed. By controlling for other factors, the researchers showed that BP exposure is the main factor in delayed healing. They found that BP exposure inhibits normal mucosal (soft tissue) healing.